Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Arica?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Arica or Paracas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Arica and Paracas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Arica or Paracas?
Arica
A mixture of coastline, desert and high Andean plateau, Arica is a seaside resort town, known for its surfing beaches located at the tip of Northern Chile. Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city. Arica's tourism is still principally geared toward domestic visitors and those from southern Peru and La Paz, who flock to its beaches mid-December through February. It is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace but the city also offers plenty of fun activities and exciting day trips.
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArica $79Paracas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Arica is $79, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $63. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Arica and Paracas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArica $35Paracas $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArica $70Paracas $44
Compare Hotels in Arica and Paracas
Looking for a hotel in Arica or Paracas? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arica Hotel Prices and Paracas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arica $18Paracas $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $85
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $30
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $30
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $78
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $87
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $78
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $175
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
- Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
- Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $163
Is it cheaper to fly into Arica or Paracas?
Prices for flights to both Paracas and Arica change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayArica $28Paracas $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paracas.
- From Lima Ballestas Islands, Ica and cooking class Ceviche: $139
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arica $20Paracas $25
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archaeological Tour: $32
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
- 2-day, 1-night tour to Paracas, Ica, and Nasca: $400
- 3-Day Paracas Tour Package: $235
- 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
- 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
- ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $45
- Adventure in the Paracas National Reserve in private: $39
- Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $26
- Ballestas Islands Group Tour from San Martin Port: $50
- Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
- Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
- Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArica $19Paracas $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arica and Paracas, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Paracas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Paracas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paracas and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arica than you might in Paracas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arica Expensive? and Is Paracas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arica or Paracas?
Arica has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Arica and Paracas, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.